Top 2 things to do in order to Grow in Christ the Jesus way

What is Christianity really? How do we live as disciples of Christ, and how exactly do we grow in Christ?

If you have ever asked yourself these few questions as a Christian, then you are on the same boat as me and millions of others around the world who wonder the same thing. What if I told you that by doing two things, you will be able to grow in Christ in the exact way that Jesus Christ told His disciples they would grow and please God by doing so? Would you believe me?

Well, I don’t want you to believe me. I want you to believe Jesus by looking at John chapter 15 with me and seeing what Jesus taught. You’ll see that by doing these two things, Christians will grow and bear much fruit. God is good, and He has made a simple way for us to follow so that we could grow up and live the way He has called us to live. God wants to see fruit in our lives, and He wants to help us see more fruit by pruning us. However, in order to be pruned, we must already be fruitful trees. In order to be fruitful trees and grow, we must do these two things:

Jesus stated that we must abide in Him and let His words abide in us.

Jesus teaches His disciples about Himself being the Vine and us being the branches who need the Vine in order to bear much fruit. Jesus tells us that we must abide in Him and that His words must abide in us. These verses about abiding in Him and letting his words abide in us will show us how simple Christianity is supposed to be. So, let’s go ahead and take a look at John 15, verses 1 through 11. I think that you’re going to be really excited when you see what I have been talking about. This text is out of the ESV translation of the Bible.

1 “I am the true Vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the Vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

In these few verses, we saw that Christ’s words sanctify us. We also see that we must remain in Him, meaning in a true relationship with Him and loving Him as He did the Father. We can only bear much good fruit by remaining connected to Jesus Christ. If we don’t bear the fruit that God expects from us, we are going to be worthless branches that get thrown away and burned. We do not want that right?

We also must learn what Jesus taught and commanded. This is what He means by us letting His words abide within us. We must renew our minds with His words. Jesus said that the Father is glorified when we bear much fruit as His disciples. Jesus told us to abide in His love, and He told us that if we keep His Commandments, that is actually us abiding in His love. By doing what Jesus said to do we will be imitating Him and truly following Him because Jesus did what the Father told Him to do. When Jesus did what the Father commanded Him, that was Jesus abiding in the Father’s love. His obedience was the display of His love for the Father. This is exactly what Jesus wants from us, his disciples. Amen?

Isn’t it awesome that Jesus also promises us that His joy will be in us and that our joy will be full?

To fully understand what I’m talking about here, I suggest that you take a listen to this sermon about John 15 and on abiding in Christ in order to grow in Christ God’s way. This full sermon on John chapter 15 will teach us what Jesus calls us to and expects from us as His disciples and “Christians”. This message was recorded from our Sunday morning church fellowship gatherings in Charlotte, NC. The message is solely based on the word of God found in the Bible, specifically in the Gospel of John chapter 15. John 15 describes what Jesus stated concerning the results of abiding in Christ. Jesus Christ said, “abide in me” and He also told us to bear much fruit. It’s difficult to hear, but Jesus stated that any tree that does not bear fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. We must take these words and warnings from the Lord very seriously. Our eternity will depend on whether or not we abide in Christ!

Blessings!